Tamper-evident closure

ABSTRACT

A closure ( 100 ) for a container ( 104 ) comprises a base ( 106 ) and a spout ( 110 ) disposed upon a mouth of said container ( 104 ) and defining a void space ( 134 ) between them; a cap ( 118 ) which comprises an inner body ( 124 ) concentrically disposed within an outer body ( 122 ), said cap configured to be disposed on said base ( 106 ) so as to seal therewith; and at least one tamper-evident device ( 136 ) extending between and locking together said cap ( 118 ) and said base ( 106 ), said tamper-evident device ( 136 ) comprising a flattened member extending from an edge of said inner body member ( 124 ) over at least one frangible link ( 140 ) and engaging said base ( 106 ) such that when the cap ( 118 ) is opened said at least one frangible link ( 140 ) ruptures, said tamper-evident device ( 136 ) consequently falling into and being partially obscured by said void space ( 134 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a National Stage of International ApplicationNo. PCT/EP2016/066905, filed on Jul. 15, 2016, which claims priority toEuropean Patent Application No. 15177383.5, filed on Jul. 17, 2015, theentire contents of which are being incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a tamper-evident device for a closure ofa container, as well as a container incorporating such a tamper-evidentdevice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has long been known in the packaging arts to provide containers withtamper-evident devices, which provide an indication to the user that theclosure of said container has been opened or otherwise compromised.

Of particular importance are those tamper-evident devices employed inpackages containing products such as food, beverages, cosmetics, andpharmaceuticals. For products such as these, it is of vital importanceto the consumer to know whether the seal of the container has beencompromised, as the product may be tainted or spoiled as a result of thecontainer having been opened.

To this end, a tamper-evident device in the form of a frangible seal,membrane, tab, band, ring, or the like is provided, which isirreversibly broken in some way when the container is opened for thefirst time. Such devices are desirable in that it is difficult, evenimpossible, to reconstitute the seal and re-close the container once ithas been opened.

One type of closure which is of particular interest is the “flip-cap”closure (also commonly known as a “sport cap” closure), which isadvantageous in that it is particularly easy to open, even with onehand. However, the flip-open motion of the closure means that thetraditional drop-band tamper-evident device, commonly found on screw-capclosures, is of limited utility.

As a result, flip-top closures generally employ a tamper-evident devicecomprising a frangible tab or band which is torn free from the closureby the user. This is disadvantageous, in that the band, once sodetached, is often discarded as litter and may become a choking hazardto small children. It is thus highly desirable to provide atamper-evident device which is retained with the container.

Several attempts have been made to address this issue, in particularEuropean patent application EP 2 213 584 A1 (EP'584). EP'584 describes anumber of different tamper-evident devices for flip-cap closures, all ofwhich drop into a cavity provided in the base of the closure when thecap is lifted, and are at least partially hidden within such cavity.

The closures presented in EP'584 can be further grouped into two types:one type utilises at least one tab or flag connected to the rest of thecap by frangible bridges, such that the tab is moulded into the outerwall of the cap. The other type involves a ring which locks to the capand to the base and which breaks into two pieces when the closure isopened.

Both of these configurations are disadvantageous, however. In the firstgroup, it is impossible to completely seal the mouth of the containerfrom exposure to the exterior; the window in which the frangible tab islocated necessarily results in an opening through the wall of the cap tothe outside, possibly allowing contaminants such as dust to pass throughto the mouth or nozzle of the container. The use of a ring such as inthe second group is equally disadvantageous, in that it while itresolves the sealing issue, it requires additional manipulation andassembly steps to assemble the closure.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved flip-cap closure which ameliorates at least some of thedifficulties elaborated above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention is directed towards a closure for acontainer, comprising a cylindrical base configured to attach to a mouthof a container; a spout disposed within said base, a void space beingdefined between said spout and said base, said spout being configured tobe disposed upon, and in fluid communication with, said mouth of saidcontainer; a cap comprising a top cover, an inner body member extendingfrom a surface of said top cover, and an outer body member extendingfrom an edge of said top cover about said inner body member, said innerbody member enclosing said spout and forming a seal therewith when saidcap is disposed upon said base; and a tamper-evident device extendingbetween and locking together said cap and said base;

According to a first aspect of the invention, said tamper-evident devicefurther comprises a flattened member extending from an edge of saidinner body member opposite said top cover, said tamper-evident devicebeing unified with said inner body member over at least one frangiblelink configured to rupture when said cap is removed from said base, saidtamper-evident device being subsequently retained in and at leastpartially obscured by said void space.

Such a closure is advantageous in that it provides a tamper-evidentclosure which is furnished in one single piece, and which maintains thespout in an enclosed, sealed environment.

In this way, a closure with a tamper-evident device may be providedwithout requiring any additional assembly steps. The possibility of aportion of the tamper-evident device coming loose is also reduced, asthere is no frangible ring to be retained with the cap as in theprior-art closures.

Moreover, the fact that the tamper-evident device is moulded as anextension of the inner body member means that there is no crack, slot,window, or other opening in said inner body member. Thus, there is noway for contaminants such as dust to enter into the cap and contaminatethe surfaces which may come into contact with the product and/or theuser's mouth.

Thus, the closure realizes all the advantages of the various closuretypes known in the art, while incurring none of their disadvantages.

In a preferred embodiment, each at least one tamper-evident device isunified with to the cap by a plurality of frangible links.

This is advantageous in that the plurality of frangible links reducesthe likelihood that the tamper-evident device is inadvertently brokenand the closure inadvertently opened. Furthermore, providing theplurality of frangible links makes the cap easier to open: the frangiblelinks will generally break in series, rather than all at once. Thesecurity and ease of use of the closure is thereby augmented.

In an embodiment, for each tamper evident device there is provided aviewing window in the outer body member of the cap.

This is advantageous in that the user can determine whether thetamper-evident device is intact without having to open the closure.Moreover, the provision of a window will retain most of the protectivequalities of the outer body member without exposing the tamper-evidentband or the inner body member to an undesirably-high degree.

Preferably, the at least one tamper-evident device is provided in acolour contrasting that of the cap.

This is advantageous in that the contrast of the tamper-evident deviceagainst the closure improves its visibility and makes it easier for theuser to determine whether the tamper-evident device is still intact,particularly for those with poor vision. The ease of use of the closureis thereby improved.

More preferably, the viewing window is a moulded or cut-out notch.

In this way, the viewing window can be implemented in the most efficientand cost-effective way possible.

Preferably, the at least one tamper-evident device is fully-obscured bythe base when disposed in the void space.

This is advantageous in that the possibility of a user mis-reading thestate of the tamper-evident device is greatly reduced, as no part of thelatter is visible once the container has been opened.

Preferably, the inner body member and the outer body member of the capeach comprise a substantially cylindrical or prismatic wall.

A closure so configured is advantageous in that it is easy to fabricatewhile retaining a great deal of structural strength in both the lateraland axial directions.

Moreover, the prism can be provided in an axially-symmetric form, suchas a cylinder, thereby facilitating the attachment and re-attachment ofthe cap to the base by the user.

In a possible embodiment, the tamper-evident device is offset from theinner body member along a lateral dimension of the cap.

This is advantageous in that it will achieve a high degree of sealing ofthe inner body member to the spout, thereby optimizing the performanceof the closure.

In an alternate embodiment, the tamper-evident device is substantiallyaligned with the inner body member along an axial direction of the cap.

This is advantageous in that a closure in such a configuration is simpleand inexpensive to fabricate, as the moulding tooling will be lesscomplex than for configurations where the tamper-evident device isoffset from the inner body member.

In a preferred embodiment, the closure further comprises a hingedisposed between the cap and the base and constraining the relativemotion thereof, said hinge being disposed substantially opposite said atleast one tamper-evident device.

This is advantageous in that the tamper-evident device is positioneddirectly in the user's line of vision as s/he opens the container. Theefficacy of the tamper-evident function of the closure is therebymaximized.

According to a second aspect, the invention is directed towards a methodof fabricating a closure as described above, comprising the steps ofproviding a base, cap, and hinge in a single piece, providing atamper-evident device, and unifying said tamper-evident device with saidcap and said base.

Such a method is advantageous in that the closure is essentiallyassembled prior to its being attached to the container. There is thus noadditional handling or assembly step necessary during the filling andsealing of the container, improving the efficiency and cleanliness ofthe filling operation.

Preferably, the at least one tamper-evident device is unified with thecap by bi-injection or ultrasonic welding.

Such fabrication techniques are particularly advantageous in that theyproduce bonds which have predictable rupture strength, in a quick andeasy manner.

Most preferably, the method further comprises a step for sealing theclosure, wherein the cap is disposed upon the base, the tamper-evidentdevice being thereby engaged with the base.

This is advantageous in that the attachment of the closure to thecontainer also seals the container. The usage of the closure withexisting equipment and in existing container fabrication and fillingoperations is thereby facilitated.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided apackage comprising a container and a closure as described above.

In this way, the advantages of the closure of the present invention areimplemented in a container.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention is directed to a method forfabricating such a package, comprising the steps of fabricating aclosure as enumerated above, and then disposing said closure upon thecontainer.

In this way, the advantages of the closure, and of the containercomprising it, are realized in production.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional features and advantages of the present invention aredescribed in, and will be apparent from, the description of thepresently preferred embodiments which are set out below with referenceto the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side section view of a closure according to a firstembodiment of the invention, in an un-opened state;

FIG. 2 is a partial side-section view of the closure of FIG. 1, in anopened state;

FIG. 3A is a perspective detail view of the tamper-evident device of theclosure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional detail view of the tamper-evident device ofthe closure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective detail view of a tamper-evident device of aclosure according to a second embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional detail view of a tamper-evident device of aclosure according to a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts, in a first embodiment of the invention, an exemplaryclosure 100. The closure 100 is configured to be disposed on a mouth 102of a container 104 (depicted here in dashed lines).

The closure 100 comprises a base 106, which is a substantiallycylindrical body configured to mate with the mouth 102 of the container104.

The means by which the base is mated to the container may depend on theapplication, in particular on the construction of the container, thesize of the mouth thereof (also known as the “neck finish” of thecontainer), the pressure anticipated within the container, and othersuch factors as may be pertinent. For example, the base may be attachedto the container by such means as threads, snap-fits, interference fits,welding or gluing, or bayonet-type connections.

For instance, while not depicted here for the sake of clarity, the base106 may be furnished with threads on an interior surface 108, which isconfigured to mate with a complementary thread on the container 104.However, other means of mating the base to the container, such asfriction fits, crimps, retaining rings, etc. may also be envisioned.

The closure 100 further comprises a spout 110. The spout 110 isconfigured to be disposed upon the container 104, at a rim 112 situatedat the mouth of said container 104, such that it is forms an extensionof an interior volume 113 of the container 104.

The spout 110 has a substantially conical form, having a wide enddisposed upon the container 104 and a narrow end formed by a nipple 114.The nipple 114 is provided with an aperture 116, through which theproduct held within the container 104 is dispensed. Additionally, avalve (not depicted) at the location of the aperture 116 may beenvisioned, so as to control the flow of a liquid product through saidaperture 116.

Thus, it will be recognized that when the spout 110 is disposed upon themouth 102 of the container 104, and the base 106 subsequently attachedto the container 104, the base 106 acts to retain the spout 110 in placeupon the container 104 and seal it thereto.

The closure 100 further comprises a cap 118, which is here depicteddisposed upon the spout 110 and the base 106. The cap 118 broadlycomprises three elements: a top cover 120, an outer body member 122, andan inner body member 124.

The top cover 120 is a substantially planar, disc-shaped member, fromwhich the outer body member 122 and inner body member 124 extend. Theouter body member 122 is a substantially cylindrical wall which extendsfrom the perimeter of the top cover 120, substantially centred upon anaxis 126 of the closure 100.

By “substantially cylindrical,” of course, it will be understood thatthe outer body member need not necessarily have a perfectly circularcross-section, or have walls which are perfectly straight and which meetthe top body at right angles. Rather, “substantially cylindrical” mayencompass considerable variation in the form of the closure, mostparticularly in the form of contours provided to improve the ergonomicand stylistic aspects of the closure, as in the outer body member 122 ofthe cap 118 depicted here.

The inner body member 124 extends from an inner surface 128 of the topcover 120, substantially concentrically about the axis 126 with theouter body member 122, such that the outer body member 122 and the innerbody member 124 are nested within each other.

The inner body member 124 and the spout 110 are formed so that, when thecap 118 is disposed on the base 106, the inner body member 124 sealsagainst the spout 110. In the embodiment depicted here in FIG. 1, thisis accomplished by the abutment between a distal end 130 of the innerbody member 124 and a shoulder 132 furnished in the spout 110. Thisabutment is present over the entire circumference of the inner bodymember 124 and spout 110, thereby creating a fluid-tight seal betweenthe two when the closure 100 is closed.

There may also be provided a substantially-cylindrical plug member 134disposed upon the inner surface 128 of the top cover 120, configured toseal the aperture 116 when the cap 120 is disposed upon the base 106,thereby offering an additional sealing action. Such is particularlyadvantageous when the container 104 is intended for rough service, orwhen avoiding leakage of the contents of the container 104 is ofparticularly acute importance.

It will be readily apparent that the interior surface of the base 106does not conform exactly to the exterior surface of the spout 110.Rather, there is formed between the two a void space 134.

Of course, the exact configuration of the void space will, naturally,depend on the configuration of the spout 110 and base 106, and need notnecessarily extend over the entire circumference of the closure 100 orbe uniform in size or shape.

The closure 100 further comprises a tamper-evident device 136, whichextends from a portion of the distal end 130 of the inner body member124. The tamper-evident device 136 also comprises a locking flange 138.The tamper-evident device 136 is attached to the distal end 130 of theinner body member 124 by a frangible link 140, the configuration ofwhich will be discussed in further detail below.

It will be readily understood that a tamper-evident device according tothe present invention need not extend around the entire circumference ofthe closure. Rather, as here depicted by the projection 144, thetamper-evident device 136 may simply extend over only a portion of thecircumference of the closure 100. This has the effect of minimizing boththe material necessary to fabricate the closure, and the force necessaryto break the frangible link 140 when opening the closure 100.

During the initial assembly of the closure 100, the cap 118 is disposedupon the base 106, sealing the inner body member 124 against the spout110 as discussed above. The tamper-evident device 136 will extendthrough a slot 142 into the void space 134, with the locking flange 138engaging a locking shoulder 146 formed in the base 106. Thetamper-evident device 136 is maintained in this position by thefrangible links 140.

Thus, once the closure 100 is assembled, the tamper-evident device 136will engage the base 106 and lock the cap 118 in the closed, sealedposition depicted here in FIG. 1.

Finally, the closure 100 is provided with a hinge 148, disposedsubstantially opposite the tamper-evident device 136 across the axis126. The hinge 148 serves primarily to define the motion of the cap 118relative to the base 106, as the cap is opened and closed by the user.

With respect to the tamper-evident device 136, this is particularlydesirable as it will reduce the relative rotation and lateral shearbetween the cap 118 and the base 106 when the user seizes said cap 118,ensuring that when the cap is opened the frangible links 140 holding thetamper-evident device 136 to the inner body member 124 break in tension;thus, inadvertent rupture of the frangible links 140 is avoided. Thehinge 148 further serves to retain the cap 118 to the base 106 when theclosure 100 is opened, improving ease of use.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the operation of the tamper-evident device 136will now be discussed.

In FIG. 2, the cap 118 is depicted as having been replaced upon the base106 after having been initially opened. The frangible links between thetamper-evident device 136 and the inner body member 124 having ruptured,the tamper-evident device has fallen into the void space 134, being atleast partially obscured therein.

Preferably, the tamper-evident device 136, the base 106, and the spout110 are configured so that the contours of the void space 134 naturallyinhibit the tamper-evident device 136 from falling out of said voidspace 134 once it has fallen in. This prevents the tamper-evident device136 from being accidentally discarded as litter or ingested by the user.

The cap 118 is provided with a viewing window 200, here provided in theform of a notch moulded into the outer body member 122 of the cap 118.The viewing window 200 enables a user 202 to inspect the tamper-evidentdevice 136, by looking through said viewing window 200 and verifyingthat the tamper-evident device 136 is still visible, and determine at aglance whether the closure 100 has been compromised.

Thus, in this case, the user 202 will look through the viewing window200 and see that the tamper-resistant device 136 is no longer visible,and conclude that the closure 100 has been opened at least once.

Of course, the viewing window may, in other embodiments, be provided inother forms, such as a cut-out, or even in the form of a bi-injectedregion of clear plastic forming a lens through which the tamper-evidentdevice can be observed. It may even be desirable to fabricate the entirecap, or the entire closure, from a transparent plastic material, topermit the state of the tamper-evident device to be observed.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the configurationand form of the tamper-evident device and its frangible link to the capcan be adapted to the particular needs of the application in question.To this end, FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4, and 5 illustrate, in a non-limitingmanner, several possible configurations for the attachment between thetamper-evident device and the cap.

The following figures are schematic in nature; thus, for the sake ofclarity, certain elements such as locking flanges, shoulders, rims, etc.are omitted from these figures. This does not mean, however, that theirabsence or presence should be construed as obligating their inclusion inor exclusion from any particular embodiment of the invention.

In FIGS. 3A and 3B, there is provided the frangible link 140 describedabove. The frangible link comprises a plurality of moulded bridges 300,which are configured to break when a tensile force 302 reaches apre-determined intensity corresponding to an opening force exerted onthe closure by a user.

The moulded bridges 300 are particularly advantageous in that thetamper-evident device 136 may be fabricated as an integral part of thecap during an injection-moulding process. Moreover, by using abi-injection process, the tamper-evident device 136 may be moulded in adifferent, contrasting colour from the rest of the closure. In this way,the functionality of the closure is augmented while keeping the cost ofits fabrication minimal.

The provision of the frangible link 140 in the form of the plurality ofmoulded bridges 300 is also advantageous in that for each of the mouldedbridges 300 that fractures, the stress exerted on the remaining mouldedbridges 300 increases. Thus, when the tensile force 302 is a constant,the tamper-evident device will become more and more yielding as the capis lifted off of the base.

It can also be seen that the tamper-evident device 136 is offset fromthe inner body member 124 along a radial direction of the cap, i.e.horizontally when the cap is placed upon the base. This is advantageousin that the lateral offset permits a better sealing between the innerbody member 124 and the spout which it abuts when the closure is closed.Moreover, when the tensile force 302 is applied, there will be createdin the moulded bridges 300 a bending moment, further favouring thefracture of the frangible link 140 and the separation of thetamper-evident device 136 from the inner body member 124.

FIG. 4 depicts a tamper-evident device 400 according to anotherembodiment of the invention. The tamper-evident device 400 is unifiedwith the inner body member 124 not by moulded bridges, but by ultrasonicwelding, here depicted by a plurality of ultrasonic spot welds 402 whichform the frangible link 404.

While solidifying the tamper-evident device by ultrasonic welding mayrequire the tamper-evident device 400 to be fabricated separately fromthe rest of the closure, this is nonetheless advantageous in that theclosure is assembled with the container in a single piece, avoiding thehandling and assembly difficulties of the prior art as mentioned above.

Moreover, more complex forms of the tamper-evident device 400 may beachievable by fabricating it separately, than by moulding it integrallywith the rest of the closure as in the embodiment discussed in FIGS. 1through 3B. The user thus realizes a greater deal of flexibility than byfabricating the frangible link 404 by moulding alone.

FIG. 5 discloses yet another possible configuration for a tamper-evidentdevice 500. The tamper-evident device 500 extends from an inner bodymember 502 by means of a moulded frangible link 504; however, unlike thepreviously-discussed embodiments, the tamper-evident device 500 issubstantially aligned with the inner body member 502, along the axialdirection of the cap (i.e. vertically, when the cap is disposed on thebase). Such a configuration may be advantageous for certainconfigurations of the closure where sealing by an interference fitbetween the inner body member and the side of the spout.

While the embodiments described in the preceding discussion illustratethe invention, it will be understood that variations are possiblewithout departing from the overall scope of the invention.

In particular, it may be advantageous to combine the tamper-evidentdevice described above with other tamper-resistant or tamper-evidentdevices known in the art.

For instance, it may be desirable to provide the closure with atraditional drop-band tamper-evident device, to provide indication thatthe closure has not been simply unscrewed from the base while leavingthe tamper-evident device in the cap intact.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention andwithout diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intendedthat such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A closure for a container, the closurecomprising: A cylindrical base configured to attach to a mouth of thecontainer; a spout disposed within the cylindrical base, a void spacebeing defined between the spout and the cylindrical base, the spoutbeing configured to be disposed upon, and in fluid communication with,the mouth of the container; a cap comprising a top cover, an inner bodymember extending from a surface of the top cover, and an outer bodymember extending from an edge of the top cover about the inner bodymember, the inner body member enclosing the spout and forming a sealtherewith when the cap is disposed upon the cylindrical base; and atleast one tamper-evident device extending between and locking togetherthe cap and the cylindrical base; the at least one tamper-evident devicecomprises a flattened member extending from the inner body member at anedge of the inner body member opposite the top cover, the at least onetamper-evident device being unified with the inner body member by atleast one frangible link configured to rupture when the cap is removedfrom the cylindrical base, the at least one tamper-evident device beingsubsequently retained in the void space and at least partially obscuredby the cylindrical base.
 2. The closure according to claim 1, whereinthe at least one frangible link comprises a plurality of frangiblelinks, each at least one tamper-evident device is unified with to thecap by the plurality of frangible links.
 3. The closure according toclaim 1, comprising a viewing window defined in the outer body member ofthe cap for each of the least one tamper-evident device.
 4. The closureaccording to claim 3, wherein the at least one tamper-evident device isprovided in a color contrasting that of the cap.
 5. The closureaccording to claim 3, wherein the viewing window is a molded or cut-outnotch.
 6. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the at least onetamper-evident device is fully obscured by the cylindrical base when theat least one tamper-evident device is disposed in the void space.
 7. Theclosure according to claim 1, wherein the inner body member and theouter body member of the cap each comprise a substantially cylindricalwall.
 8. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the at least onetamper-evident device is offset from the inner body member along alateral dimension of the cap.
 9. The closure according to claim 1,wherein the at least one tamper-evident device is substantially alignedwith the inner body member along an axial direction of the cap.
 10. Theclosure according to claim 1, comprising a hinge disposed between thecap and the cylindrical base and constraining the relative motionthereof, the hinge being disposed substantially opposite the at leastone tamper-evident device.
 11. A package comprising a container and aclosure, the closure comprising a cylindrical base configured to attachto a mouth of the container, a spout disposed within the cylindricalbase, a void space being defined between the spout and the cylindricalbase, the spout being configured to be disposed upon, and in fluidcommunication with, the mouth of the container, a cap comprising a topcover, an inner body member extending from a surface of the top cover,and an outer body member extending from an edge of the top cover aboutthe inner body member, the inner body member enclosing the spout andforming a seal therewith when the cap is disposed upon the cylindricalbase, at least one tamper-evident device comprises a flattened memberextending from the inner body member at an edge of the inner body memberopposite the top cover, the at least one tamper-evident device beingunified with the inner body member by at least one frangible linkconfigured to rupture when the cap is removed from the cylindrical base,the at least one tamper-evident device being subsequently retained inthe void space and at least partially obscured by the cylindrical base.12. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one frangiblelink comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, thefirst end of the at least one frangible link directly coupled to theinner body member, and the second end of the at least one frangible linkdirectly coupled to the at least one tamper-evident device.
 13. Theclosure according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of the inner bodymember and a shoulder of the spout abut to form the seal when the cap isdisposed upon the cylindrical base.
 14. The closure according to claim13, wherein the at least one frangible link comprises a first end and asecond end opposite the first end, the first end of the at least onefrangible link directly coupled to the distal end of the inner bodymember, and the second end of the at least one frangible link directlycoupled to the at least one tamper-evident device.
 15. The packageaccording to claim 11, wherein the at least one frangible link comprisesa first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end ofthe at least one frangible link directly coupled to the inner bodymember, and the second end of the at least one frangible link directlycoupled to the at least one tamper-evident device.
 16. The packageaccording to claim 11, wherein a distal end of the inner body member anda shoulder of the spout abut to form the seal when the cap is disposedupon the cylindrical base.
 17. The package according to claim 16,wherein the at least one frangible link comprises a first end and asecond end opposite the first end, the first end of the at least onefrangible link directly coupled to the distal end of the inner bodymember, and the second end of the at least one frangible link directlycoupled to the at least one tamper-evident device.